Thailand Live Monday 23 May 2011

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Unconfirmed but Tolo News, citing an official, says Mullah Omar was killed in Pakistan while moving from Quetta to North Waziristan /BNONews

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NATO spokesperson just told me: No reporting on our end. We've just heard the same media reports and are looking into them. /BNONews

Xinhua says in its report that "a security official" also told them that Omar is dead. Still, not good enough to say it's accurate. /BNONews

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Spokesman for President Karzai told me: Just like you, we heard it on a local TV. I don't know much truth is there in this. /BNONews

Just wrote a brief report for BNO News on the reports. Mainly stresses there is no official confirmation from credible sources at this time. /via@mpoppel

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Suan Dusit Poll: Pheu Thai more popular

BANGKOK, 23 May 2011 (NNT) – Popularity of the Pheu Thai Party is higher than the Democrat Party while the numbers that contesting parties have drawn upon their registration have no impact on people’s decision, according to a recent survey by Suan Dusit Poll of Suan Dusit Rajabhat University.

The survey was conducted with 3,584 respondents across the country from 19 to 22 May 2011. The respondents were questioned about their decisions and reasons for their choice in the party-list system.

50.07% of the respondents will choose preferred figures and parties. 28.18% will choose a preferred party regardless of its candidates while 14.62% will take only preferred candidates into consideration. Only 3.59% and 3.54% will choose from policies and performances of the candidates respectively.

74.30% of the respondents knew that the Pheu Thai Party got number One for the election campaign while 67.83% knew that the Democrat Party got number 10. However, only 16.63%, 15.43% and 13.76% knew the numbers of Bhumjaithai, Rak Prathet Thai and Chart Thai Pattana Parties respectively.

Asked if the campaign numbers of political parties have impact on their decision, 53.31% of the respondents did not think so while 14.2% thought the opposite, reasoning that a single digit is easier to remember, and people tend to choose the very first parties if they do not know which one to go for.

Asked which parties they will choose for the party-listed system, 41.22% of the respondents will choose the Pheu Thai Party, followed by the Democrat Party with 36.88%, the Bhumjaithai Party with 3.88%, Chart Thai Pattana Party with 3.20% and Rak Prathet Thai Party with 1.59%.

-- NNT 2011-05-23

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Kyodo news agency: AIP quashes report Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar is dead /BNONews

Note: AIP = Afghan Islamic Press

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Afghan broadcaster claims death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, report not immediately confirmed

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REU: AFGHAN TALIBAN REJECTS REPORT LEADER MULLAH OMAR KILLED, TELLS REUTERS HE IS IN AFGHANISTAN /BNONews

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Thaksin says sister may not become PM even if Pheu Thai wins

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AFP: Thai economic growth picks up: official data

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Pheu Thai Threatens to Transfer Chiang Mai Governor if Elected

A key member of the Phue Thai Party has threatened to discipline Chiang Mai provincial governor for his biased behavior if his party is elected into office.

Pheu Thai MP candidate Chalerm Yoobumrung has threatened to reshuffle Chiang Mai provincial governor M.L. Panadda Ditsakul if the pro-Thaksin party is elected into office.

Chalerm explained that the governor has not been acting neutrally.

According to Chalerm, the governor has been calling meetings with local village headmen and district chiefs in Chiang Mai province.

Chalerm asserted that other northern provincial governors have already realized which party voters are going to cast their ballots for, and only the Chiang Mai provincial governor has failed to fall in line.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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Democrat Party Concerned about Safety During Campaign

The Democrat Party has expressed some concerns over its candidates' safety, fearing attacks by red-shirt supporters during campaign events.

Paitoon Kaewthong, member of the Democrat Party's advisory council, has announced that all of the party's constituency-based MP candidates will register their candidacy tomorrow.

Paitoon, who has been appointed to oversee the party's election campaign in lower northern provinces of Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Pichit, Nakhon Sawan and Sukhothai, has expressed concerns over the candidates' safety.

He claims that red shirt protesters could disrupt the campaign by harassing the candidates during campaign events.

Paitoon also said that many of the party's election campaign signs have been vandalized.

Meanwhile, Plodprasop Surasawadee, deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party, has played down the Democrat Party's complaint about being harassed by the red shirt protestors.

The deputy Pheu Thai leader said that the Democrat's candidates should not overreact because they have never been harmed by supporters of the anti-government red-shirt movement.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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According to reliable sources, some people were paid 300 Baht to vote in yesterday's election in Samut Prakan. /via@RichardBarrow

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Pheu Thai Seen Using All Tricks to Win Poll

The People's Alliance for Democracy claims the Pheu Thai Party is implementing every single trick in the book to win the July 3 poll.

People's Alliance for Democracy coordinator Prapan Khunmee stated the Pheu Thai Party is using all channels to win the forthcoming election.

He claimed there have been rampant vote-buying activities in the provinces.

He added that both the Pheu Thai and Democrat parties have tried to derail the PAD's "Vote No" campaign.

Prapan went on to say no matter what result of the poll is, the country will see no change.

As a result, he called on the general public to vote "No" as that will wield more “weight” than voting for one particular party.

He also complained some voters have ignored the fact that some political parties have not prioritized their anti-corruption policies.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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US President Barack Obama lands in Ireland for visit celebrating his ancestral roots, kicking off four-nation European tour /MCOT

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Tourism Body Against Making Airport Exhibition Center

The Tourism Council of Thailand has voiced opposition to using Don Muang Airport as an exhibition center.

Tourism Council of Thailand, or TCT, Chairman Kongkrit Hirankit said he is opposed to the plan to turn Don Muang Airport into an exhibition center as proposed by Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot.

He said there are several exhibition centers in Bangkok, such as Impact Muang Tong Thani, and there is no need for another exhibition center.

Moreover, he said a large budget was used to build Don Muang Airport and it is not worth it to turn the place into an exhibition center.

Moreover, Kongkrit said Don Muang Airport should be kept as the country's second international airport besides Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

He added that Thailand should not rely on U-Tapao Airport, which is located in Chonburi Province, as a secondary airport.

He said he will raise his views with the TCT meeting to be held tomorrow.

He went on to urge the next government to come up with plans for the use of Don Muang Airport while suggesting that the new government leave the airport as the country's second international airport similar to other developed countries which have two international airports in their capital city.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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JULY NATIONAL ELECTION

Let me be the opposition : Chuwit

By The Nation

PM introduces Democrat party candidates for Bangkok

Rak Prathet Thai leader Chuwit Kamolwisit on Monday campaigned at a crowded market in Chatuchak, saying his party is ready to be the opposition.

Campaigning under the Number 5, Chuwit, a former massage parlour tycoon, distributed leaflets, which read "Let me be the opposition."

Chuwit, who is known for his eccentric character and lively campaigns, was cheered by vendors and people shopping at the market in Soi Paholyothin 18.

He ran for Bangkok governor in 2004 and came in third.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva introduced Democrat party candidates who will run in 33 Bangkok constituencies.

Abhisit, running in the July 3 national election under the Number 10, chaired the ceremony, which was conducted at the Arena 10 indoor football pitch on Soi Thonglor 10.

He wore a white Tshirt with the number 10 on the back and his name on the front.

-- The Nation 2011-05-23

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Chavalit's Son to Run in Poll under New Aspiration Party

Former Pheu Thai Party senior General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has decided to field his son in the July 3 election under the New Aspiration Party's banner.

Former Pheu Thai Party chairman General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, as founder and former leader of the New Aspiration Party, presided over a seminar hosted by the party.

He also chaired the introduction of NAP's party-list candidates at the Rama Garden Hotel today.

The name of Chavalit's son, Kruekpol Yongchaiyudh, has been included in the list of candidates to run in the party-list system.

During his speech at the event, Chavalit stated that he returned to politics and joined the opposition Pheu Thai Party because he wanted to solve problems in the three southern border provinces, promote reconciliation between Thailand and neighboring countries and address poverty.

However, he said his resignation from the Pheu Thai Party is due to the red-shirt group.

As for his political future, Chavalit said although his heart is with the New Aspiration Party, he would not rejoin it.

The former Pheu Thai Party chairman noted that he preferred to stay neutral and consider all political parties as his friends.

Chavalit said if he joins any political party, the political conflict will not be solved.

He has met with each of the political groups to find some middle ground that everyone can work on.

He added that reconciliation will only take place once all sides forgive each other and start to work together sincerely.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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Libel Hearing for Red-shirt Leader Postponed

The Criminal Court has postponed hearing witnesses' testimonies in the libel case that the prime minister brought against red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan to Thursday.

Former Pheu Thai party-list MP Jatuporn Prompan, also a red-shirt leader, today was brought from the Bangkok Remand Prison, where he is being held after the revocation of his bail on terrorism charges.

He was transported to the Criminal Court for a hearing in the libel case that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva filed against him.

The charge was in response to a red-shirt rally on May 10 last year when Jatuporn accused Abhisit of lying that he was trapped inside a car which was attacked by red-shirt protesters.

The protesters stormed the Interior Ministry after the prime minister declared an emergency decree to contain the April's riots.

Jatuporn also accused Abhisit of being a murderer for his order for the military to crack down on the red-shirt protests during the same period.

Jatuporn's lawyer urged the court to postpone his client's testimony given that he is being detained and has not prepared his testimony.

Abhisit's lawyer, however, objected to a postponement, arguing that rescheduling the hearing would give an unfair advantage to the defense.

Jatuporn's lawyer then petitioned the court to postpone the hearing to May 26 .

The court approved his petition.

Meanwhile, the red-shirt group's lawyer will petition the prison to bring Jatuporn back to the Criminal Court tomorrow to hear the Appeals Court's verdict on another libel case filed by Kraisri Chatikavanij, father of Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-23

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Eurocontrol: No significant impact is expected today on flights as a result of the eruption of the Grimsvötn volcano in Iceland. /BNONews

There is a risk that some ash may reach parts of northern Europe in the next 2 days, according to the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre /BNONews

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Abhisit: Bangkok's a highly significant battlefield, whose outcome will b one of decisive political factors. /via@tulsathit

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Former South African President Mandela goes home to rest

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SET index closed at 1053.97, down 18.97; Bt/USD30.28; GBP48.80; AUD31.82; EUR42.33; CAD30.87; HKD3.89; SGD24.14; JPY36.9

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Australian attacked at noodle stall in Jomtien by 20 man gang

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Pattaya Tourist Police shut-down underage prostitution service

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continues:

Thailand Live Tuesday 24 May 2011

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